Inspired by Cindy Sherman

I was inspired by two of Cindy Sherman’s black-and-white photographs. The two original photos were Untitled Film Still #31; she is in a dark room with her head tilted looking back with a shadow over her face. Along with Untitled Film Still #27b; she is in a bright hallway leaning against the wall with her head tilted looking forward. Although both photographs show similar poses, its surroundings and angle taken in express a different message. 

  

Looking for inspiration, I first came across the picture where she had the shadow over her face. I had not put much mind to it, until I came across the second picture where things looked better, brighter. Individually, the first picture; Untitled Film Still #31, it seems like she’s stuck on something that isn’t letting her shine, hence her being in a dark room, looking back, and having the shadow over her face. In Untitled Film Still #27b it seemed like she fought out of a bad place that was keeping her from being happy or sane, in a way “free” and that the only person to really motivate you to do better is yourself, hence her reflection reflecting off the wall, the picture being brighter, and her looking forward.  

  

  Cindy Sherman captures all her photographs with a deep meaning behind it. As for my selfie, I combined both pictures by having the shadow over my face but looking forward. Taking my perspective on the two original photos and combining them, I came up with my meaning to my own selfie. In order to overcome difficult challenges in life you have to push yourself and have the will that you are able to fight through the shadows.

Link: http://www.artnews.com/2012/02/14/the-cindy-sherman-effect/

Samantha Da Rocha: Suitcase

   Cindy Sherman has been a huge inspiration to my photography and some of my video work in the past couple of years. She was one of the first photographers that I felt didn't have to pretend to understand. There are a lot of artists and photographer that I could stare at for hours and not know what I'm looking at, although this may be considered charming, as a freshman in college, I was fed up. I first found out about her work in an Avant-Garde film studies course, I was shown multiple photos and no information; I thought they were all different people. When the professor explain how they all the same person in different 'personas' I was hooked.

   I've tried to explore more of her photography before, by recreating some of her earlier work. Retaking some of her work, pushed me a bit out of my comfort zone, because I'm not used to being front of the camera as myself, let alone me in a different persona. In the picture above I took her Untitled Film Still #12 (1978), of a woman in distress packing a  suitcase, and did my take on it. Showing me, with an open suitcase in front of me with clothes strung about, also in distress. Both photos have a black and white filter to signify that it could be an aged photo. 

   When I saw the original photograph by Cindy Sherman, I created an entire backstory for the photo, where a woman was the mistress to the husband, and the wife was away for the weekend. She then decided she was gonna stay with the man, but then the wife came home early and now she's crying and packing. I liked that story so I put myself in that mindset, putting on heels and little shorts, maybe to signify that I was a party-loving, wild child. I was holding up the shirt to show fear, I was hearing the couple argue from outside the door. In the end, I was happy with the result of my photograph, and want to further experiment with self-portraits and putting myself in front of the camera, as opposed to being behind it. 

Links:

-https://www.moma.org/collection/works/56571?classifications=any&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=2019&locale=en&page=1&q=cindy+sherman&with_images=1

- https://www.thoughtco.com/cindy-sherman-biography-4174868

#1

For the first selfie of the semester; after reading both artist’s work with the provided readings and videos, I decided to take my own spin on them. Cindy Sherman’s work is aesthetically pleasing because of the way she depicts identity, even if it doesn’t physically look like her. There are many interesting photographs where one would not think that she pulled all that off by herself. Of course this was back in the day where technology for photography wasn’t as advance as it is today.
The black and white series stills (called Untitled) reveal a lot without showing/saying a lot. Which is why I chose my selfie to be black and white to give it a more mysterious look and give it maybe a bit more meaning.
Mickalene Thomas’ paintings and photographs where my main inspiration to create this self portrait. Her desire to show the unshown is what makes them really powerful. She takes real pride in who she is and where she comes from to show light to the black community. Not only does she make them known, she emphasizes the strength, value and courage these women have. That is what I tried to depict in my own photograph.
In my own creation, I tried to show a posture that show’s dominance, which is something that many men, even today think woman can not be. The clothing plays a huge role, it’s the United State Army’s  uniform to show woman can work in areas outside the stereotype norm, can be strong and be just as “bad ass.” In a way just like Mickalene did with the portrait of Mnonja, I’m leaving a small mark with a photograph to show the progress we as society have made over the years of misogyny. https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/portrait-mnonja-80011

Selfie inspired by Cindy Sherman

This selfie is inspired by Cindy Sherman's untitled still film #56 and untitled still film #2. Although in each picture she adopts a different character, both images focus on her reflection in the mirror. An interesting detail is that both pictures depict someone that doesn't seem to be heavily altered, as she usually does. Her artwork tends to be honest and straightforward. The intention I had when I took the picture was to to capture the environment on her untitled still film #56. However, the reflection aspect is influenced by untitled still film #2. I decided to use this one as a reference for my facial expression.

I found it a bit hard to think of a selfie inspired by Cindy Sherman because most of her work deals with identity. Its difficult to work with a selfie and use it as a photograph that depicts the opposite of self. However, I found it to be a great example because there's more to identity than physical components, especially our face. While almost all of us are identified by our name and face, our identity also resides in our thoughts and actions. I believe it takes "reflecting" about ourselves deeply to figure out what makes us different.

In Cindy Sherman's untitled still film #2 her character seems to be playful and is only wearing a towel.  I used a towel because it removes another form of identity, which many express by how they dress. In her untitled still film #56  there's more of a circle caused by the light. I decided the use of a foggy mirror to show how part of our identity is also socially constructed. However, the clear circle is to show that it all depends on us, when we focus and decide who we want to be and by who we let ourselves be inspired.
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/28/arts/art-review-the-ever-shifting-selves-of-cindy-sherman-girlish-vamp-to-clown.html?ref=cindysherman

Lights at the end of the road

Cindy Sherman captures all of her photographs with a meaning behind it
and I wanted to do the same. This selfie is about how life is a long road to
success and I’m still at the beginning of it. Intellectual growth and success
happens only with time and I’ve always wanted to just jump to the point
where I’m at the top. During failing and stressful times is when i feel like
quitting, but the lights at the end of the road shine the brightest in this
moment. I tried to mimic Sherman’s photographs by having that sort of
horror touch by making the setting a dark and scary place as well as making
the color black and white. Also, mimicking Sherman’s quality pictures, I’m
not looking at the camera, but I added a little twist to it by turning my back
to it. As you can see in the picture, I’m standing literally on a long road
facing the lights and trying to reach out to them.

Cindy Sherman Bus Riders - Katherin Mendoza

After reading "The Cindy Sherman Effect", I wanted to look more into her work. I searched through numerous google pictures and I finally arrived at a series named "Bus Riders". There were multiple Untitled Films with all the same background, but different characters. There were ones that looked calm, some nervous, uncomfortable, or completely caught up in books. This reminded me of my daily commute to school and back. Every day on public transpiration whether it's bus or light rail, there is numerous amount of people: no two the same. Every person is dressed in their own way, some look caught up in a book, others look tired as they yawn.

For my weekly selfie, I decided to take after Cindy Sherman's Bus Riders. I think her bus riders series was something I could really relate too, because you have an idea of which type of rider you are. I usually have my headphones on and catch up on homework during my commute, if not I look around to examine others on the crowded light rail. It's the life of a student.

Personally, I find most of Cindy Sherman's photographs to be pleasing to the eye. There is something relaxing about the black and white, since it gives of a silent mood. But at the same time, she depicts so much. She's done stereotypes of women, photoshop, clown series, and many more projects. I think her pictures are real life moments, caught at the right time. Not every photographer is able to catch emotions like that, she invented selfies before selfies were a thing. She did different poses, different themes, different expressions. I really was fascinated by the warm toned she used on some of her work, it was usually warmed toned if not black and white.


Sources: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/sherman-bus-riders-66670/13

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/810225789186335486/

selfie based on cindy sherman work

         I was inspired by Cindy Sherman portraits because she made people familiar with selfie even before new phones invention. She was able to include herself in most of her portraits. She was professional in combining three basic elements in her work; self, media and art. As noticed, she was influenced by films that focused on women. I liked when she was able to manipulate the picture by changing her physical shape and surroundings to create a unique portrait of herself.    Each portrait can tell us a story. Some portraits reflect fear and loneliness, some reflect violence against women. In most of her work, she reflect reality.

        

          Untitled film still # 21 was one of groundbreaking series. She used black and white photos to show the role of women in that period of life. What inspired me in this portrait is that she used the background of huge buildings  in black and white and she used classic dress or suit reflecting the fashion of women during this period. I liked when she made the shadow of the sun over the buildings and her look forward telling us that women can do anything; they can work, study and build a family. I chose to mimic this portrait through using background of building picture because I can not find any huge building around my area. I covered my head with hat to look similar to her with a special look upwards that sends a hidden message that I am a city girl who can do anything in life. 

        

       I was not able to use makeup over my face, but I liked how she included some light makeup on her face through making some shadows over her eyes and on her lips. This beautiful makeup is usually seen over the faces of professional women. I see that it shows how strong this women is. Also, her choice of clothes inspired me because I like this classic fashion. Overall, this portrait is amazing. I love every detail in it. 

 http://100photos.time.com/photos/cindy-sherman-untitled-film-still-21

Cindy Sherman Untitled (Marilyn Monroe) Selfie By Amina Bekralas

What inspired me to do this certain selfie was one specific portrait of Cindy Sherman’s which was called Untitled (Marilyn Monroe) 1982. In the picture Sherman can be seen mimicking Marilyn Monroe who I always found to be such an iconic person of the 90’s. This portrait of Sherman caught my attention because it feels like there is so much going on in her thoughts that she is trying to conceal.  Many people seem to find her pieces to be pretty horrific but to me they seem to have a mysterious effect of finding one’s true identity towards the pieces she creates. 

 Pictures are a perfect way of expressing how you are feeling. For me taking pictures is something I actually enjoy doing because I like to look back to remember what kind of day it was, and kind of memories were made. This portrait also made me realize how fun it actually is to strike a pose. In this picture the position that was done was pretty uncomfortable to do and it was pretty annoying to do because I had to sit still in order to get the perfect shot. They say that “beauty is pain” and I can definitely understand that now from completing this selfie. I tried to capture the perfect lightening to make this picture come to life. I also added some filters to make it have a more retro vibe. 

 In this portrait Sherman seems to have the world in her hands and does not know how to control it. Many thoughts seem to be swirling in her head that she cannot seem to get straight. Sherman also expresses the beauty of Marylin Monroe in such an elegant matter. This selfie symbolizes how everything may seem so perfect, but nobody really knows how a person’s personal life is. Sherman is sitting there looking pretty when she seems to be surrounded by many dark thoughts that she cannot seem to restrain. Sherman’s mouth being open is like she wants to say something, but the words do not seem to want to come out of her mouth. To conclude, I feel so much emotions coming out of this one portrait which is a reason why I picked it.  

Sources

https://www.icaboston.org/art/cindy-sherman/untitled

Cindy Sherman Inspired Selfie By Mariah Torres

I have been very inspired by Cindy Sherman’s movie stills. In the documentary “No One’s Here But Me”, Sherman had mentioned that she was a fan of horror films. Being a hardcore horror fan myself, I thought to myself how would I mimic the same eerieness Sherman’s work possesses. I questioned what I feared and how I would act it out in my photos, like how Cindy Sherman portrays her characters in her horror still. My biggest fear is drowning; not only from the intake of water but also from anxiety and stress. The rapid movement of the water over me signifies my rising fear and anxiety. My body was stiff as I held in my breath. The more I moved the water, the less you can see the actual me and more of a distorted silhouette.

I have taken several photos of myself in the water, out of all of them, the last one (which is posted above) caught my attention. My main goal was like Cindy Sherman’s, to make the piece look different from me and catch other’s attention. The distortion of the water helped make my face look ominous and many can’t tell if that’s truly me. The pieces that inspired me was Cindy Sherman’s Untitled #92 and Untitled #93. The terrified expressions on her face had made me think about what to truly fear. Her movie stills always create multiple stories from different people of different views, which is very impressive.

I used the black and white filter, as some of Cindy Sherman’s photos, to sharpen up some of the shadows. I’ve noticed Sherman’s work has a lot of light and angle manipulation to change her features. I played with the scaling of the shadows so I can at least try to darken out my eyes, hair, and my clothes to have the creepy silhouette. The water has already changed my features, but I didn’t want to the picture to look like a massive blob of color.

Links: https://artsearch.nga.gov.au/detail.cfm?irn=91991

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/56480

Selfie of Loneliness

This selfie is about how a person feels when they have nobody to play video games with. This a story of someone who used to play video games without thinking about playing with anyone. When he noticed himself alone in the room playing games by himself, he realized that video games could be more fun with family and friends, but at this point he had no friends to play with and many games are very dependent on co-op. His family members were too busy or were not there most of the time which made it difficult for him. This selfie shows us that it symbolizes loneliness based on the way he just sits there and thinks about how lonely he is.

I was inspired by the way Cindy Sherman’s selfies are not just about identity but the story behind the picture. This means that each selfie has a deeper meaning or shows things that people do not normally see in a photograph. If you see her selfies, you will notice that most of her selfies are based on different genres of film. I’m also attracted to the weird and bizarre, and she’s a master at that. Selfies that are weird and bizarre also make it easier to think of ideas for a picture. For example, in a school hallway that has no one around (many ideas horror related, or weird ideas can come from this). She was the trendsetter in terms of distorted characters within self-portraiture. Originally painters painted self-portraits, and then she kind of blew it open with photographic portraiture, and now there are all these avenues younger artists are taking, which would not have been so easy without her work.

In my selfie, I relate to her use of color and lighting. My selfie is in black and white like some of her selfies which can help my picture have more meaning. When I see the lighting and color in my picture, I can automatically notice the loneliness. I learned that changing the angle of the camera can also help improve the picture like the way Cindy Sherman did.